Technology Areas

The NSTIC is a premier technology consortium focused specifically in supporting naval surface technology innovation to provide research, development, test and evaluation, analysis, integration and certification of complex naval warfare systems across a broad range of systems-related areas and disciplines. NSTIC offers Federally-funded research and business opportunities for large and small companies and academia, especially small and emerging companies that have not traditionally worked with the government in the past. Upcoming solicitations will encompass a wide range of programs and technology areas, including:

Research, development, demonstration, and exploitation of technologies and methods associated with metamaterials. This includes the development of algorithms, measurement techniques, hardware, and techniques to validate the capability of multi-functional materials. As related to the development and demonstration, the manufacturability and survivability of the meta/multi-functional materials utilizing state-of-the-art (SOTA) technologies and capabilities.

Research, development, demonstration, test, and evaluation of tools, techniques, procedures, and processes that expand the state of the art in cyber warfare, cyber engineering practices, and system security engineering practices throughout the system lifecycle. This includes advanced offensive and defensive applications, technologies (anti-tamper, supply chain risk management, Hardware and Software, microcode to application layer), and tools supporting vulnerability assessment and adversarial assessment (such as red team) cyber initiatives in all aspects, and implementation of policy as code for example cyber policy implementation as code.

Boundary extension of ‘big data’ analysis tools used for data classification, clustering, dimensionality reduction, predictive analysis, visualization, and forensic analysis of streaming data. Research may include artificial intelligence (AI)/autonomy/deep learning for statistical pattern recognition, vehicle control, semantic reasoning, and cyber defense. Research may include threat assessment and enhancement of RF monitoring, and recording/analysis. Consider advanced visualization concepts for augmented reality, and personnel training/readiness.

Technologies associated with directed energy weapon systems, including integration into weapon, combat, and ship systems. Electric Weapons such as the Electromagnetic Railgun (EMRG), High Energy Lasers (HEL), and High Power Microwave (HPM) enable the defeat of Anti-Access capabilities with potentially lower cost per engagement than conventional weapons.

  1. EMRG will extend the reach of the warfighter beyond that of conventional guns, can address advanced air threats, and removes the need to store high explosive propellant to leave more space for projectiles. Technology areas of interest include high energy density pulsed power, high-rate charging systems, energy storage suitable for shipboard environments, novel rail materials and manufacturing techniques, mount systems, high-current transfer techniques, and thermal management systems.
  2. HELs offer the ability to counter asymmetric threats with high precision, nearly instantaneous engagement, and deep magazines and no weapons resupply. Technology areas of interest include laser sources, beam control systems, integrated diagnostics, adaptive optics, atmospheric characterization, target tracking hardware and software, gimbals, advanced cameras and sensors from the visible to infrared, and test instrumentation.
  3. HPMs employ non-lethal, non-kinetic effects in order to control escalation, avoid collateral damage, and expand the battlespace. Technology areas of interest include high average and/or peak power Radio Frequency and Microwave Sources, novel antennas, compact pulsed power and energy storage systems, high voltage devices and modulators, standoff battle damage assessment of electronic targets, and non-intrusive instrumentation. Common to all three Electric Weapons applications is the need for integration with ship’s power, cooling and mechanical systems as well the interaction with other weapons and the Combat System. Research, development, demonstration, and exploitation of technologies, algorithms, methods, as well as advanced prototypes in each of these application areas, is desired.

Research, development, demonstration, and exploitation of tools, techniques, and procedures that expand the state of the art in software engineering practices, advanced computing and computation, and heterogeneous/homogenous computing environments throughout the system lifecycle. This includes hardware and software architecture and design, formal verification tools and techniques, algorithmic development and design, clustering/high availability computing stacks, compiler technologies, software assurance tools, automatic code generation, networking tools and the necessary hardware and software to improve the state of the art in the field of computation and advanced computing, automated containerization of applications and developer tools, Fusion of identity management across heterogeneous platforms and automated file based access encryption technologies.

Research, development, test and evaluation, systems engineering, modeling & simulation, certification, and demonstration of autonomous and unmanned systems and payload technologies. Payload technologies include sensors, onboard computing, and weapon capabilities, and payload deployment mechanisms. Advanced control methods and technologies are desired for both platforms and payloads in all domains. This includes sub-system and system level control that incorporates integrated capabilities and the ability to collaborate between systems of systems for massively scalable multi-UxS “swarms” for both offensive and defensive purposes. Achieving autonomous and unmanned systems technology integration into modern and emerging weapon control, combat systems, and force structures is also sought.

Research, development, prototype (including preliminary pilot), demonstration, test, and evaluation activities used to evaluate the technical or manufacturing feasibility or military utility of evolving electromagnetic systems and the management of those systems to more efficiently utilize the spectrum and address electromagnetic compatibility, electromagnetic interference, and radiation hazards (RADHAZ), as it relates to fleet operations and integrated topside design. The effort may include systems, subsystems, components, algorithms, software, materials, methodology, technology (e.g. machine learning), and processes. In order to support feasibility assessments, the project will address cost, technical performance, platform impacts (e.g. size, weight, and power), combat system integration, or any combination thereof.

    1. Advanced Sensor Systems: Research, development, prototype (including preliminary pilot), demonstration, test, and evaluation activities used to evaluate the technical or manufacturing feasibility or military utility of advanced sensor systems for the surface navy. The effort may include systems, subsystems, components, algorithms, software, materials, methodology, technology, and processes.
    2. Sensor Data Fusion: Research, development, prototype (including preliminary pilot), demonstration, test, and evaluation activities used to evaluate the technical or manufacturing feasibility or military utility of fusing data from multiple types of sensors (e.g. radar, electronic warfare, electro-optical/infrared) that or either geospatially co-located or separated. The effort may include systems, subsystems, components, algorithms, software, materials, methodology, technology, and processes. In order to support feasibility assessments, the project will address cost, technical performance, platform impacts (e.g. size, weight, and power), combat system integration, or any combination thereof.
    3. Sensor Data Analytics: Research, development, prototype (including preliminary pilot), demonstration, test, and evaluation activities used to evaluate the technical or manufacturing feasibility or military utility of efficiently collecting sensor data from operational assets to be used for 1) identifying areas, including those not obvious to the warfighter, where sensors can be improved, 2) validating sensor models and simulations, and 3) assessing proposed solutions. The effort may include systems, subsystems, components, algorithms, software, materials, methodology, technology, and processes.
    4. Advanced Electronic Warfare: Research, development, prototype (including preliminary pilot), demonstration, test, and evaluation activities used to evaluate the technical or manufacturing feasibility or military utility of advanced electronic warfare systems, including advancement of threat characterization, combat system integration, cognitive decision support, real-time EW and sensor effects evaluation, and collaborative weapon and sensor engagements. The effort may include systems, subsystems, components, algorithms, software, materials, methodology, technology (e.g. machine learning), and processes. In order to support feasibility assessments, the project will address cost, technical performance, platform impacts (e.g. size, weight, and power), combat system integration, or any combination thereof.

Research, development, demonstration, and exploitation of technologies, algorithms, and methods that expand the ability for innovative design, manufacturing, and assessment approaches for gun and projectile systems. The gun and projectile system technology elements includes current and future gun mounts, gun barrels, gun launch energy, gun power and cooling, gun fire controls, gun fire control sensors, and projectile systems including hypersonic projectiles with seeker technologies. Areas of interest include prototype hardware and computer algorithms; establishing manufacturing techniques; modelling & simulation of equipment components, system elements and system interfaces; development of test equipment, instrumentation and fixtures; and validation testing of equipment and software utilizing an operationally relevant environment at land-based or at-sea test platforms.

Modeling and Simulation (M&S), Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), Verification and Validation (V&V), and integration of models into System of Systems (SoS) environment. Digital engineering (DE) represents the philosophy, methodologies, practices and techniques that will enable Dahlgren to move all of its analytical and developmental activities into the digital age. The scope of this effort is broad; DE will encompass all activities across the system engineering “V” from the early conceptual development phases all the way to system deployment and training. DE is meant to eliminate the reliance on paper documentation while providing a digital collaborative environment to execute tasking within. NSWCDD’s DE strategy provides the overarching umbrella under which previously disjoint areas of research and work (e.g., artificial intelligence, machine learning, virtualization, etc.) will be brought into a holistic environment where these activities and be leveraged and coordinated with each other.

Research, development, demonstration, and exploitation of technologies, algorithms, and methods that enhance human and team cognitive, physical, social and behavioral performance, improve manpower, personnel, and training capabilities, increase safety, occupational health, and survivability, optimize environment and habitability conditions to support performance, and that advance human systems engineering modeling, simulation and analysis capabilities as they relate to HSI engineering design, test, and experimentation. Critical HSI research areas include Human Computer Interaction (Augmented/Virtual Reality, Advanced Data Visualization and Displays, Interface/Interaction Design for Future Systems, and Wearable Interfaces and Performance Monitoring), Human and Unmanned Autonomous Systems Teaming (Interface/Interaction Design, Human Modeling, Teamwork/Teambuilding between Humans and Autonomous Systems), and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning to aid human performance (Advanced Analysis and Design Tools, Human Modeling, Threat Prediction/Detection/Assessment, Decision Making, Situation Awareness, Mission Planning and Execution, and Teaming).

New concepts or theoretical frameworks in the areas of quantum sensing, computing, and simulations, explicit (i.e. non-black-box) quantum and quantum-inspired algorithms for (e.g. material modeling, mission planning, and signal processing). Investigate new quantum computing paradigms, methods to use weak measurement/dynamic nonlocality, and other new quantum effects to provide novel detection methods and to enhance the sensitivity of field gradient measurements.

This technology area is focused on the identification of threat vulnerabilities and identifying countering effects. This Threat Engineering technology investment is the navy enabler to 1) avoiding technological surprise; 2) avoiding developing and deploying point solutions; and 3) deploying operationally capable systems to defeat specific threats. Enabling Threat Engineering research requires that we make significant investments in complex, intricate end-to-end threat Modeling and Simulation (M&S) as well as in the development of target delivery mechanisms.

Engineering and analysis across surface warfare domain mission areas. Mission engineering (ME) and analysis activities examine warfighting capability within an operational context. Warfighting objectives are translated into mission-level requirements which are then flowed down to individual platforms and systems. Gaps are 5 identified and candidate solutions (material and non-material) are examined to determine if the gaps are addressed. Example models, reports, white papers, prototypes include:

  1. Fleet Mission Level Assessment and Evaluation, in which analytical rigor is brought into the planning, execution and analysis of Fleet Exercises.
  2. Mission and domain-level analysis in support of OPNAV and Program Executive Offices to assess current and planned warfighting capability.
  3. Support to the Fleet Engagement Community of Practice Surface Warfare Analysis Team to analyze questions of interest to the Navy Analytics Office.

Research, development, demonstration and exploitation of techniques and technologies that enable Integrated Warfare Systems to capitalize on Open Architecture computing environments. Research and demonstrate the use of Service Oriented Integrated Warfare System Architectures that utilizes continuous integration software development and enables the use of accessible commercial cloud infrastructure to enable disparate Design Code Test evolutions. Explore and implement Model Based System Engineering as a means to document and prototype Integrated Warfare System current and future performance across the entire Kill Chain (Plan, Detect, Control, Engage and Assess). Investigate and implement algorithms and techniques for integrated Warfare Systems capabilities that enable sensor netting and weapon pairing of an integrated force across the entire kill chain and surface warfare domain mission areas. Investigate and implement techniques that improve Human Machine pairing to support Integrated Warfare Systems across the tactical and training functional areas. Develop access to universities and Industry partners that focus on Open Architecture Environments, Service Oriented Architecture, cloud computing, and advanced algorithm development for sensor resourcing, distributed engagements and distributed computing.

Research, development, demonstration, and analysis of alternatives associated with Virtualization technologies, including hardware abstraction techniques (hypervisors) and operating environment abstraction techniques (containers). Virtualization solutions to include dynamic resource allocation, cyber resilience, real-time performance assessment, heterogeneous hypervisor deployment, and incorporation of service oriented concepts. Prototype efforts to include execution of hardware and software solutions that meet a wide range of Navy needs for both laboratory variations, portable, and shipboard environments.

Research, development, test and evaluation, systems engineering, rapid prototyping and fielding of systems to defeat and defend against non-traditional threats. Utilize comprehensive scientific and engineering knowledge, operational experience, and rapid prototyping capabilities for the development and fielding of warfighting and peacekeeping technology solutions that enable warfighters to more effectively and appropriately respond to asymmetric threats and acts of aggression. Includes hardware and software development to deliver innovative and cost-effective solutions that include special payloads, advanced countermeasures, counter-asymmetric weapons, scalable effect weapons, disruptive technologies, special signals collection, embedded systems with specialized tactical electromechanical technologies, tagging/tracking/locating capabilities, and forensics and biometrics systems.

Research development, demonstration, and exploitation of advanced manufacturing processes and technologies, such as additive manufacturing, biotechnology and robotics and their applications used for development and fabrication of prototype and developmental surface warfare, combat, and weapons systems hardware. Specific areas of interest include:

  1. Advanced Manufacturing: Development, demonstration, and exploitation of advanced manufacturing technologies and their applications used for development and fabrication of prototype and developmental surface warfare, combat, and weapons systems hardware. This includes but is not limited to: material science and engineering required to enable new materials and to enable utilization of existing naval and defense materials for advanced manufacturing technologies, modeling and simulation to support development, fabrication, and manufacturing of prototypes with advanced manufacturing technologies, and acquisition of advanced manufacturing materials and capabilities to enable rapid prototype fabrication at the center.
  2. Global Manufacturing: A global manufacturing system results in disparate world-wide capabilities used to manufacture components to create integrated systems. Research, development, demonstration, and exploitation of tools and techniques that expand the state of the art in supply chain management and assurance, raw materials availability, and total system cost analysis.

Research, development, and testing needed to measure, understand, model, and quantify emergent kinetic and non-kinetic weapons concepts and associated effects in order to provide acquisition decision makers with an objective technical assessment of these concepts. Lethality begins with an understanding of the threat and its associated vulnerabilities as applied to the Systems Effectiveness Kill Chain and then uses this understanding to develop mathematically tractable models to assess weapon performance and resultant effectiveness when integrated with a platform.

Research, development, engineering, testing and prototyping of capabilities for surface engagement, both offensive and defensive not covered by other technology areas. This includes the use of kinetic, non-kinetic, lethal and non-lethal mechanisms to allow the naval services the capability to execute all assigned missions whether in a hostile or benign environment. This technology area includes technologies that will allow the more efficient use of current engagement systems via enhancements (better integration of systems, improvements in algorithms, and addition of sensors) and novel concepts in both hardware and software that will provide new capabilities to the naval services.

Research, development, test and evaluation, systems engineering, modeling and simulation, and demonstration of missile launching systems. The missile launching systems technologies include current and future missile launching systems, hot and cold missile launch technologies, shock mitigation methods for ship mounted equipment, hardening and protection methods for reducing missile sympathetic detonation risks onboard ship, lightweight and composite materials, rocket motor exhaust systems for ship launchers, insulating materials for high pressure and high mass flow environments, launcher electronics and architectures for integrating different missiles into a single launcher, missile canister technologies, modular launcher designs and integration methods, and launcher integration with fire control and combat systems. This includes missile launching systems that may be used for autonomous and unmanned systems. Areas of interest include prototype hardware and computer algorithms; establishing manufacturing techniques; modeling and simulation of equipment components, system elements and system interfaces; development of test equipment, instrumentation and fixtures; and validation testing of equipment and software utilizing an operationally relevant environment on land-based or at-sea test platforms.

Research, development, prototype, demonstration, test and evaluation activities of advanced integrated training systems and their components to provide training capabilities which keep pace with the threat and ensure that fielded surface force capabilities can be trained. Anticipated technology areas include readiness measurement (determining warfighting readiness of a training audience in an automated and quantifiable way), simulations and distributed simulation technologies, sensor stimulation, scenario composition based on training objectives, autonomous behavior of simulated forces, training event control and monitoring, visualization and sensory augmentation technologies, gaming technologies, computer based training, computing and data communication resources, and technologies related to the collection, reconstruction, analysis and after action reporting of the training event to the training audience.

U.S.-based small and large businesses, academic institutions, and nonprofits from these and related technology areas are invited to join.

U.S.-based small and large businesses, academic institutions, and nonprofits from these and related technology areas are invited to join.